Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art pop-up summer bar Colour Fields kicks off for 2017

The Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art's summer bar gets an early start on the silly season, with its Colour Fields venue kicking off on Friday, November 3 with more shades than a Jenny Kee knit.

While its annual arrival hasn't yet etched itself on the annual art diary alongside, say, the naming of the Archibald Prize winner, the bars' clever theming with an exhibiting MCA artist is increasingly becoming a hot topic in both art and bar circles.

This year Swiss visual artist Pipilotti Rist is the inspiration behind the Circular Quay bar. Colourful is an understatement.

"When the sun comes through the hand-painted PVC panels during the day it has a kaleidoscope effect," MCA's Zoe Graham says. "At night it pops."

The food follows a similar theme (think "over the rainbow" tasting plates, Petuna ocean trout tartare or king prawn cocktail tacos) and drinks also have quirky monikers.

"Yellow, is it me you're looking for" marries Earl Grey tea-infused gin with orange marmalade and ginger beer.

Not colourful enough for you? Then try the "froze rosé blush".

So how does this latest incarnation stack up against previous years, which included a cherry blossom garden theme?

"As with children they're all special in their own way, but this year is so colourful and really reflects the artists' approach of looking at the world through a different lenses," Graham says.

The bar is scheduled to close February 18, but in recent years has had its run extended.

Open Wed-Sun 4pm-late.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, The Rocks, mca.com.au